A Micromechanics Study of the Effects of Concentration and Temperature on the Propagation Rate of Stress Corrosion Crack in Cross Ply Glass/Epoxy Laminates under Acid Environments

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of concentration and temperature on the propagation rate of stress corrosion crack were examined in cross ply glass/epoxy laminates exposed to acid environments. At first, stress corrosion crack tests were carried out on compact tension specimens of the laminates under various environmental conditions. After that, the propagation rate was evaluated theoretically by using the formura derived previously from the viewpoint of a micromechanics approach. Then, it has been found that the theoretical results agree almost well with the experimental ones. Thus, the effects of concentration and temperature on the propagation rate have been clarified quantitatively.